SEARCH FIRST! Check out the new LithiaToyotaParts.com!

te51levin · 01-22-2010, 11:43 PM

This is a small announcement, but it's very big to us. After nearly four years of doing business exclusively through email and over the phone, we finally have a functional online store: LithiaToyotaParts.com is open for business!

We tried to get our corporate masters to give us as much autonomy as possible because we want the site to be used exclusively by the MR2 community. With that in mind, we stripped off most of the extra junk, so it still looks a little plain. That's not the point, anyway. Cosmetics aside, the site is fully functional!

The catalog works just like most other online dealerships - you can either browse by application or you can enter part numbers manually, which is what we always recommend. This also gives you the opportunity to do things like add to your order or check your purchase history online. There are things we can do with this site that we have only begun to explore. We have a lot of MR2 parts on special already and we will be adding more in the future. We're also adding notes where they are useful. For some examples, enter 81510-17090 or 90919-21581 in the "Search by Part Number" box. It is critical that you DO NOT select a vehicle if you are shopping by part number. We don't promise to be the cheapest - anybody can promise that - but we do want this to be the best site from which to order MR2 parts!

Even if you aren't ready to order, the new site is the best way to get pricing information without having to email or call us, because you can do it any time you want rather than waiting for me to get back to you.

Once you create a customer account, we can also set it up to display part numbers on anything in your shopping cart. That makes it a lot easier to stay organized, especially if you have a list of different parts with similar descriptions (bolts, gaskets, etc). Just ask us and we'll do it.

The site is up. Take a look and try it out!

EDIT 12/02/11: The site will not load for some people. If you are having trouble getting it to work, please visit this thread and answer all the questions listed so that we can get the issue figured out once and for all:

Lithia Toyota needs your help!

canadam · 01-23-2010, 12:12 AM

Awesome! Great job, Aaron & friends.

o6spdracer · 01-23-2010, 01:26 AM

Finally!!! hahaha. Thanks Aaron! I just sent you an email with a list of parts. Hopefully now you will have more time and not have to field 1000 calls per day. Thanks again, you are awesome!

Ashmen · 01-23-2010, 01:42 AM

Just for kicks I put in some part #s your not supposed to have access to, ie. 13568-80015 and 13540-88561, and it pulled them up. Has your access to JDM parts expanded?

te51levin · 01-23-2010, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canadam

Awesome! Great job, Aaron & friends.

Thanks Adam! We are really excited about where this is heading.

Quote:

Originally Posted by o6spdracer

Finally!!! hahaha. Thanks Aaron!

Yeah, finally indeed. Blessed thing took forever! And the thanks belongs to you guys. Without your support there would be no need for any of this!

Quote:

Originally Posted by o6spdracer

I just sent you an email with a list of parts.

The irony here is just staggering...

But what can we do? I know you have some "special needs" parts on that list. And of course everyone is always welcome to email us or post in our vendor forum if you can't find what you need on the site, or need part number confirmation, or whatever else.

Quote:

Originally Posted by o6spdracer

Hopefully now you will have more time and not have to field 1000 calls per day.

Yeah, well, that's part of the plan, but we'll see how it works out. Might be more complicated than it looks. Life is so unexpected...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashmen

Just for kicks I put in some part #s your not supposed to have access to, ie. 13568-80015 and 13540-88561, and it pulled them up. Has your access to JDM parts expanded?

Unfortunately, the answer is "probably not." Email me if you'd like me to confirm on Monday, but it's probably the same story as before (from this thread) - those parts are recognized on the US system, but were marked as non-import, so I cannot order them. If they still carry the non-import code, they're simply off limits to US dealers.

Good to know the website won't replace me entirely

328FTW · 01-23-2010, 03:46 AM

Your avatar changed to, the sky is going to fall!!!!!!!

MR JAS · 01-23-2010, 03:56 AM

lol i wont recognize you now

mr2magic · 01-23-2010, 05:29 AM

Great news!!

Do you cater to international buyers too?

PHOENIX · 01-23-2010, 05:30 AM

Awesome!

Should make your job a little more easier

te51levin · 01-23-2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr2magic

Great news!!

Do you cater to international buyers too?

Absolutely. We will still be happy to deal to international buyers. The only difference is that we will ask you to contact us before placing the order so that we can estimate shipping charges. You can then place your order and will be charged appropriate shipping costs when the parts are shipped to you, even though international shipping costs will not be displayed when you submit the order. There is no way for the catalog service to do that with any degree of accuracy or fairness, so we're going to maintain control of that part and add it manually for international customers.

David · 01-23-2010, 12:08 PM

Very nice. Now I have something to look through when I get bored.

te51levin · 01-23-2010, 12:29 PM

Thanks for the encouragement! I got a good question via email that is worth posting here...

Quote:

Originally Posted by James, via email

Aaron, will the site identify when parts are no longer available?

Not automatically, no, and the fact that the site brings up a price for a part emphatically does not mean that the part is still available. We will be adding notes to certain part numbers if we get a lot of inquiries on them. There are other tricks we can do, like set an artificially high price for a part that we know is discontinued, that should keep people from trying to buy things that we know we cannot get.

We will still be directly involved in each order once it is placed, and if someone attempts to order something that is no longer available, we'll contact them and let them know what their options are. Checking the status of a part before placing an order is not a bad idea if you suspect something may not be available.

curvesrgood · 01-23-2010, 04:26 PM

Nice job Aaron and your website minions

. Glad to have that up and going! I agree with you on the pictures for the header... eww other than the mk2 with the 98 style wing.

David · 01-23-2010, 07:03 PM

What? Do they think the MR2 community is a bunch of 15 year old ricers?

RePete · 01-24-2010, 08:02 PM

Thanks for putting that up, I think it's a big deal too. Many sites I used to go to for price quotes seem to have come down in the past 6 months for whatever reason. I've always done my own research.

And just like you posted in another thread, I think there's more to getting the part than the price. I've seen you bend over backward for many owners over the years and your knowledge of MR2s is way up there. I think I'll switch to you.

te51levin · 01-24-2010, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RePete

Many sites I used to go to for price quotes seem to have come down in the past 6 months for whatever reason.

I think it's because a lot of dealerships jump into online sales, thinking it will be a cash cow, and don't realize how much work it is to confirm and correct orders placed by people who may or may not know what they need, gather it up, pack it and ship it, etc, all the while selling the parts for less than what they'd get doing it the easy way (over the counter). There is probably a pretty high return rate, too, as internet shopping is so convenient that I'd imagine it results in a lot of impulse buying. The MR2 community is a whole lot better educated about what they need and want, parts-wise, than the general public. And we have the advantage of a few years of shipping under our belts, too. Unless they give me my own store or fire me, I think we will keep the site going for quite a while!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RePete

I think I'll switch to you.

You are welcome aboard any time. Let us know what we can do for you!

Trak Turtle · 01-25-2010, 02:01 PM

Looks brilliant Aaron & grats

te51levin · 01-25-2010, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashmen

Just for kicks I put in some part #s your not supposed to have access to, ie. 13568-80015 and 13540-88561, and it pulled them up. Has your access to JDM parts expanded?

Just wanted to follow up on this. Even though those two part numbers are technically listed on the US parts system, they are also marked with a special non-import identifier that makes them totally unavailable to US dealers. The only way around that is if you can provide us documentation proving that you own a vehicle that they originally apply to, that is legally registered in the US. Toyota's pretty hard-nosed about this. I wish there was a way around it, but there is not at this time.

mr2na · 01-25-2010, 06:19 PM

New site is awesome! I love it! Thanks Aaron!

Now I have a much easier way to spend my money with Aaron! lol

Frank

RePete · 01-25-2010, 08:09 PM

Yup, just ordered a few hundred in parts through the web interface. Let's see how it goes.

01-22-2010, 11:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
te51levin LithiaToyotaParts.com Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Copperhead Road Posts: 3,706 Thanks: 50 Thanked 324 Times in 268 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (193/100% )	SEARCH FIRST! Check out the new LithiaToyotaParts.com! This is a small announcement, but it's very big to us. After nearly four years of doing business exclusively through email and over the phone, we finally have a functional online store: LithiaToyotaParts.com is open for business! We tried to get our corporate masters to give us as much autonomy as possible because we want the site to be used exclusively by the MR2 community. With that in mind, we stripped off most of the extra junk, so it still looks a little plain. That's not the point, anyway. Cosmetics aside, the site is fully functional! The catalog works just like most other online dealerships - you can either browse by application or you can enter part numbers manually, which is what we always recommend. This also gives you the opportunity to do things like add to your order or check your purchase history online. There are things we can do with this site that we have only begun to explore. We have a lot of MR2 parts on special already and we will be adding more in the future. We're also adding notes where they are useful. For some examples, enter 81510-17090 or 90919-21581 in the "Search by Part Number" box. It is critical that you DO NOT select a vehicle if you are shopping by part number. We don't promise to be the cheapest - anybody can promise that - but we do want this to be the best site from which to order MR2 parts! Even if you aren't ready to order, the new site is the best way to get pricing information without having to email or call us, because you can do it any time you want rather than waiting for me to get back to you. Once you create a customer account, we can also set it up to display part numbers on anything in your shopping cart. That makes it a lot easier to stay organized, especially if you have a list of different parts with similar descriptions (bolts, gaskets, etc). Just ask us and we'll do it. The site is up. Take a look and try it out! EDIT 12/02/11: The site will not load for some people. If you are having trouble getting it to work, please visit this thread and answer all the questions listed so that we can get the issue figured out once and for all: Lithia Toyota needs your help! Last edited by te51levin; 12-08-2011 at 09:10 PM.. Reason: added link

01-23-2010, 12:12 AM	#2 (permalink)
canadam MidshipExpress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Beautiful British Columbia Posts: 10,399 Thanks: 120 Thanked 142 Times in 121 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (34/100% )	Awesome! Great job, Aaron & friends. __________________

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01-23-2010, 01:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
o6spdracer Nothing Clever Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2,187 Thanks: 1 Thanked 112 Times in 107 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Finally!!! hahaha. Thanks Aaron! I just sent you an email with a list of parts. Hopefully now you will have more time and not have to field 1000 calls per day. Thanks again, you are awesome!

01-23-2010, 01:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ashmen Beams Owners Group Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: AL Posts: 381 Thanks: 10 Thanked 18 Times in 17 Posts iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	Just for kicks I put in some part #s your not supposed to have access to, ie. 13568-80015 and 13540-88561, and it pulled them up. Has your access to JDM parts expanded?

01-23-2010, 03:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
328FTW Crazy Nasty Honey Badger Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,236 Thanks: 24 Thanked 266 Times in 239 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Your avatar changed to, the sky is going to fall!!!!!!!

01-23-2010, 03:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
MR JAS Generous to a fault Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: hamilton new zealand Posts: 722 Thanks: 19 Thanked 17 Times in 16 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	lol i wont recognize you now

01-23-2010, 05:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
mr2magic deutsch type skillz Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hannover, Germany Posts: 1,201 Thanks: 107 Thanked 53 Times in 49 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Great news!! Do you cater to international buyers too?

01-23-2010, 05:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
PHOENIX Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Hiatus....... Posts: 9,266 Thanks: 92 Thanked 292 Times in 224 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (49/100% )	Awesome! Should make your job a little more easier

01-23-2010, 12:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
David Banned Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 2,621 Thanks: 120 Thanked 55 Times in 54 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	Very nice. Now I have something to look through when I get bored.

01-23-2010, 04:26 PM	#13 (permalink)
curvesrgood three mk1's Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NC Posts: 499 Thanks: 8 Thanked 33 Times in 28 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Nice job Aaron and your website minions . Glad to have that up and going! I agree with you on the pictures for the header... eww other than the mk2 with the 98 style wing.

01-23-2010, 07:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
David Banned Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 2,621 Thanks: 120 Thanked 55 Times in 54 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	What? Do they think the MR2 community is a bunch of 15 year old ricers?

01-24-2010, 08:02 PM	#15 (permalink)
RePete No Frills Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Western Canada Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 254 Times in 244 Posts Blog Entries: 4 iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Thanks for putting that up, I think it's a big deal too. Many sites I used to go to for price quotes seem to have come down in the past 6 months for whatever reason. I've always done my own research. And just like you posted in another thread, I think there's more to getting the part than the price. I've seen you bend over backward for many owners over the years and your knowledge of MR2s is way up there. I think I'll switch to you.

01-25-2010, 02:01 PM	#17 (permalink)
Trak Turtle Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gurgaon, India Posts: 186 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Looks brilliant Aaron & grats

01-25-2010, 06:19 PM	#19 (permalink)
mr2na Some Skills Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 161 Thanks: 1 Thanked 12 Times in 12 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	New site is awesome! I love it! Thanks Aaron! Now I have a much easier way to spend my money with Aaron! lol Frank

01-25-2010, 08:09 PM	#20 (permalink)
RePete No Frills Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Western Canada Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 254 Times in 244 Posts Blog Entries: 4 iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Yup, just ordered a few hundred in parts through the web interface. Let's see how it goes.